InnerG Brings “Energy in Motion” to Abu Dhabi with the Opening of Its First Studio

Fitness has long been divided into categories: the Pilates people, the runners, the yogis, the weightlifters, the dancers, but what if movement didn't require choosing just one identity?

That is the thinking behind InnerG, a new UAE homegrown fitness studio that has opened its first location at Space42 Arena in Al Raha, Abu Dhabi. Co-founded by Rafif Tarek Alhassen, InnerG is built around a simple philosophy, Energy in Motion, and a more expansive idea of what a fitness community can look like.

Rather than prescribing a single way to train, InnerG brings a broad spectrum of disciplines together, allowing members to move according to their mood, goals and interests.

"With InnerG, we wanted to create a community where there is something for everyone — where people can come together and experience movement in a way that feels personal to them," says Alhassen. "It isn't about defining one way to move; it's about giving people different ways to move, connect and grow, all within one community."

Four ways to find your energy

At the heart of InnerG is a deliberately varied programme spanning Reformer Pilates, yoga, mat Pilates, dance, HIIT, boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mobility, stretching, breathwork, sound healing and strength-based training.

The offering is organised around four distinct pillars: Groove, Glow, Grit and Growth.

Groove is about dance, rhythm and creative expression, while Glow focuses on mindful movement and wellbeing. Grit takes a more dynamic route, bringing together combat disciplines, strength and resilience. Growth, meanwhile, centres on Reformer Pilates.

The result is a fitness menu that feels less like a rigid timetable and more like an invitation to explore. One day might call for an intense boxing session; the next could be about stretching, breathwork or Pilates.

And that variety is part of the point. Wellness increasingly isn't about finding one perfect workout, but creating a movement practice that can evolve with you.

A studio designed around real life

InnerG's launch also arrives during the UAE's Year of the Family, making its focus on intergenerational wellbeing particularly timely.

One of the studio's defining ideas is to make movement easier to incorporate into family life. Adult and children's programming is designed to run side by side, meaning parents and children can take part in different activities at the same time while still sharing the experience of being in the same space.

It's a small but significant shift in the way fitness is approached. Instead of wellness becoming another item on an already crowded family schedule, it becomes something families can experience together.

For Isabella Brandstotter, Head of Operations, that sense of belonging extends into every detail of the studio. "From the studio environment and class experience to the smallest operational details, our goal has been to create a space where people feel genuinely welcomed and supported," she says. "We want every visit to reflect the sense of community that defines InnerG."

Coffee, connection and the space between classes

The InnerG experience doesn't stop when the workout ends. The studio is also home to Omni, an independent specialty coffee concept founded by Alhassen.

With a focus on quality and intention, Omni rotates coffees and roasters from around the world, highlighting different origins and flavour profiles. There is also ceremonial matcha and a selection of functional smoothies made with clean ingredients designed not simply as refreshments, but as part of a more considered approach to what goes into the body.

That may be where InnerG’s wider appeal lies. It is more than another place to exercise; it is a space designed for people to train, recover, connect, enjoy a coffee and feel part of something bigger.

As Abu Dhabi's wellness landscape continues to evolve, InnerG arrives with an idea that feels refreshingly uncomplicated: movement doesn't have to look one particular way, and wellbeing doesn't have to be a solitary pursuit. Sometimes, it can be about finding your energy and people in the same place.